Weekly Police Blotter – Lacey Township Police Department – February 3rd thru 10th, 2015

On Saturday, February 7, 2015, at 1:37 p.m., Officers Christopher Meyler and Darrell Nick responded to the St. Pius Church on Lacey Road for a report of a burglary and theft. The complainant reported that between 12:15 p.m. and 1:00 p.m., an unknown person or persons pried open the administration office door of the church and appeared to have gone through the drawers in the office. Approximately $100 in cash was taken. In addition, the doors on the northeast side of the building, which connect the parish hall to the CCD classes, were also damaged. The total damage was estimated at $500. Lacey Township Police Department Detective Samuel Della Sala, along with the Ocean County Sheriff’s Department Crime Scene Investigations Unit, responded to the scene to investigate.

Later in the day on Saturday, February 7, 2015, at 5:55 p.m., Officers John D. Simonson and Brian Holt responded to the Walmart, located at 580 Route 9 North in Lanoka Harbor, for two adult male shoplifters in custody. Investigation at the scene led to the arrest of 27-year-old Michael Disabato of Compass Drive in Waretown and 27-year-old Scott A. Bennett of Yorktown Drive in Forked River for shoplifting merchandise valued at $144. Michael Disabato was also found to be in possession of hypodermic syringes. Scott Bennett also had an outstanding Ocean County Sheriff’s Department warrant in the amount of $10,000. Both arrestees were transported to Lacey Township Police Headquarters.

While the two subjects were in custody and as the investigation into the St. Pius Church burglary continued, the investigation led to charges being signed against Michael Disabato and Scott Bennett for the Burglary, Theft, Criminal Mischief, and Possession of Burglary Tools for the St. Pius Church incident. Bail for those offenses was set in the amount of $25,000. Michael Disabato was also charged on a warrant with the Burglary and Theft from the vehicle at Lacey Amoco with bail set in the amount of $15,000. Michael Disabato was also charged on a warrant with shoplifting and Possession of Hypodermic Syringes for the incident at Walmart with bail set in the amount of $5,000. Both subjects were transported to the Ocean County Correctional Facility in default of the bail.

Shoplifting, Warrant, and Drug Possession (Arrest) – On Saturday, February 7, 2015, at 10:29 p.m., Officers Michael Verwey and Patrick Watkins responded to Walmart, located at 580 Route 9 North in Lanoka Harbor, for a report of a male shoplifter in custody. Investigation at the scene led to the arrest of 23-year-old Matthew Dellapietro of Pheasant Drive in Bayville for shoplifting merchandise valued at $15. Matthew Dellapietro also had an outstanding Ocean County Sheriff’s Department no-bail warrant and was found to be in possession of Heroin. Matthew Dellapietro was transported to police headquarters, processed, and charged with shoplifting and possession of Heroin on a criminal warrant. Bail was set in the amount of $2,500. Matthew Dellapietro was lodged in the Ocean County Correctional Facility in default of the bail.

Warrant Arrest – On Saturday, February 7, 2015, at 12:47 p.m., Officer Daniel Ricciardella conducted a traffic stop in the parking lot of the Laurel Plaza located at 629 Route 9 North in Lanoka Harbor. Investigation at the scene led to the arrest of the registered owner of the vehicle, 33-year-old Todd Mundy of Merrimac Drive in Forked River on an outstanding Lacey Township Municipal Court criminal warrant in the amount of $500. Todd Mundy was a transported to Lacey Township Police Headquarters, processed, and released after posting full bail. Todd Mundy was also issued a traffic summons for driving while suspended.

Warrant Arrest – On Saturday, February 7, 2015, at 11:08 p.m., Officer Michael Verwey along with officers from the Ship Bottom Police Department responded to a Rogers Street residence in Lanoka Harbor to serve a Ship Bottom Borough Court Warrant in the amount of $10,000 on 28-year-old Michael Lugo. Upon arrival, the officers located Michael Lugo and placed him under arrest on the warrant. Michael Lugo was turned over to the custody of the Ship Bottom Police Department.

Warrant Arrest – On Saturday, February 7, 2015, at 10:16 a.m. Officer Evan Androcy conducted a traffic stop of a vehicle in the parking area of Delta Gas located at 602 Route 9 North in Lanoka Harbor. Investigation at the scene led to the arrest of 61-year-old Mary Power of Bowsprit Point in Lanoka Harbor on several outstanding traffic warrants. The warrants included a Cherry Hill Township Municipal Court warrant in the bail amount of $750, a Toms River Township Municipal Court warrant in the bail amount of $500, and a Jackson Township Municipal Court warrant in the bail amount of $250. Mary Power was transported to Lacey Township Police Headquarters, processed, and released after posting full bail on the warrants. The vehicle she was operating was impounded for no insurance. Mary Power was issued traffic summonses for Driving While Suspended, Suspended Registration, and Operating an Uninsured Vehicle.

Warrant and Drug Possession (Arrest) – On Saturday, February 7, 2015, at 1:48 a.m., Officer Scott Keefe conducted a traffic stop on Pensacola Road in Forked River. Investigation at the scene led to the arrest of the passenger, identified as 19-year-old Brandon Venditto of Ravenwood Drive in Barnegat, NJ, on a no-bail Ocean County Sheriff’s Department Warrant. In addition, he was found to be in possession of Marijuana. Brandon Venditto was transported to police headquarters, processed, and charged with Possession of Marijuana, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Brandon Venditto was lodged in the Ocean County Correctional Facility on the no bail warrant.

Warrant Arrest – On Friday, February 6, 2015, at approximately 9:30 p.m., Officers John McKee and Michael Verwey arrested 35-year-old John J. Platt of Woodlawn Drive in Forked River at his residence on an outstanding Camden City Municipal Court Warrant in the amount of $401. John Platt was transported to Lacey Township Police Headquarters where he was processed. John J. Platt was released on his own recognizance by the Camden City Municipal Court Clerk.

Theft from a Vehicle – On Friday, February 6, 2015, at 9:21 p.m., Officer Anthony Sarno responded to the Lacey Mall located at 348 Route 9 North in Lanoka Harbor for a theft report. The victim reported that between 3:30 p.m. and 9:15 p.m., an unknown person or persons entered his unlocked vehicle that was parked in the rear of Lacey Mall and stole $165 worth of property including but not limited to: three (3) Books on CD and a wallet containing miscellaneous documents. The incident is under investigation.

Warrant Arrest – On Wednesday, February 4, 2015, at 9:17 a.m., Officers Jason Lee and Frederick Anderson conducted a traffic stop on Lacey Road near Harzold Road in Forked River. Investigation at the scene led to the arrest of 31-year-old Theodore Vansanten of Chelsea Street in Forked River on an outstanding Lacey Township Municipal Court warrant in the amount of $350. Theodore Vansanten was transported to Lacey Township Police Headquarters, processed, and released after posting full bail.

Theft (Arrest) – On Wednesday, February 4, 2015, Officer Jason Lee and Officer Frederick Anderson arrested 42-year-old Erik M. Tobin of 603 Arlington Lane North in Forked River as a result of a theft report that was received on January 28, 2014. Investigation into the incident led to Erik M. Tobin being charged on a warrant with Receiving Stolen Property and Theft by Deception. Bail was set at $10,000. The charges came as a result of stolen property being sold to a local pawn shop. Erik M. Tobin was served at the Ocean County Correctional Facility where he was being lodged on charges out of another jurisdiction.